Defibrillation electrode device



July 27, 1965 1-. H. CORBlN 3,196,877

DEFIBRILLATION ELECTRODE DEVICE Filed Nov. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

THOMAS H. Cage fl mw wi ATTORNEY$ July 27, 1965 T. H. CORBINDEFIBRILLATION ELECTRODE DEVICE Filed Nov. 14. 1962 35- Fi g- 3UIIIHIIIII.

IIIIIIIIHII 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR THOMAS H. CORE/N UnitedStates Patent 3,196,877 DEFIBRILLATION ELECTRODE DEVICE Thomas H.Corbin, Palo Alto, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, toCorbin-Farnsworth, linc., Palo Alto, Calif., a corporation of DelawareFiled Nov. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 237,529 4 Claims. (Cl. 128-406) Thisinvention relates generally to medical apparatus and more particularlyit relates to an electric shock producing device for use in cardiacresuscitation.

A common occurrence with victims of various heart diseases is that theheart suddenly lapses from its normal beat into fibrillation, which maybe described as the condition wherein the heart muscle fibers quiver ortremor and beat independently and without rhythm. Unless thisfibrillation is arrested within a short time and the normal beating andpumping of the heart is resumed, the patient will cease to live. Priorto the present invention it was discovered that this fibrillationcondition could be arrested and a normal heart beat re-established bystimulating the heart muscles back into their normal action by applyingelectrical shocks to them. Originally, the technique was to apply theshock internally after making a chest incision. However, more recentlythe external treatment was proven to be a more practical techniquewherein a pair of electrodes connected to a power source are applieddirectly to the body surface for passing timed pulses of electricalcurrent through it.

In situations where such defibrillation equipment is to be used, time isof the essence. The equipment must therefore be easy to operate with amaximum of efiiciency and safety. Moreover, it must be operable by aminimum of personnel who may have only limited training. Sincerelatively large amounts of electricity are being supplied, safety is anall important factor and particularly so because of the urgency andpossible confusion involved in using the device.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide animproved external defibrillation electrode apparatus capable ofproviding electrical shock treatment for cardiac resuscitation. Morespecificially, an object of the invention is to provide a defibrillationelectrode device of the aforementioned type that is easy to operate by asingle operator wherein the operator holding and positioning theelectrodes on the patients can operate a switchattached to one of theelectrode assemblies. This arrangement eliminates the need for any 00--ordinationbetween an operator holding the electrodes and another personcontrolling the flow of electrical current. It also prevents any chancefor an accidental switch actuation and thereby provides maximum safetyof operation. These important features are made possible by anarrangement of elements in accordance with the invention whereby theswitch is enclosed within the electrode handle and is easily engaged bythe thumb of the operators hand by gripping the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an' improveddefibrillation electrode device that is capable of transmittingrelatively high voltage pulses to the patient being treated withcomplete safety to both the operator and the patient.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a defibrillationelectrode device for cardiac resuscitation that is particularlyadaptable for ease and economy of manufacture.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description 3,196,877 Patented July 27, 1965embodying the principles of the invention when being used for cardiacresuscitation;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of the electrode assemblies together witha somewhat schematic diagram of the control console showing theelectrical circuit for the defibrillation device according to theinvention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation showing the electrode assemblyof FIG. 2 having an enclosed control switch;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the electrode assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation and in section takenalong the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and showing details of the upper portion ofthe electrode assembly;

FIG. 6 is another enlarged fragmentary view in elevation and in sectionof the upper portion of the electrode assembly of FIGS. 35 and takenalong the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an electrical cardiac resuscitationor defibrillation device 10 embodying the principles of the inventionand shown as it is held when in actual use. Broadly, the device 10comprises a pair of electrode assemblies 11 and 12, connected to asource of electrical power through a portable control console 13.

that can be supported on a convenient stand or similar mount and locatedremotely from the patient being treated. As shown in FIG. 2 the controlconsole 13 provides a means for receiving the electrical power from asuitable source (eg. a standard volt outlet) through a pair of leads 8and 9, and houses a variable transformer 16 for boosting the inputvoltage to the desired level. The means for switching the current on andoff in the supply leads 3 and 9 is provided by means of a main switch17. Since the device 10 is built to provide an electrical current at afairly high voltage, the surges.

through the lines 14 and 15 at the switch 17 often reach extremely highvalues (i.e. 300 amps, peak). Thus, in accordance with the invention,the main switch 17 is actuated by a contactor relay 18, which in turn iscontrolled by a miniature switch means 19 installed in a unique mannerin the electrode assembly 12. An automatic timing device 20 is alsoprovided in the circuit for miniature switch 19 and the relay 18, sothat the electric shock produced by the device 10 on a patient will havea short predetermined duration (e.g. .l5.25 sec- 0nd). The timing device29 may be of any suitable well known type and its function is to provideone pulse for one actuation of the switch 19. The use of the miniatureswitch means 19 within the electrode assembly 12 for controlling themain switch 17 is an important feature of my invention as will becomeapparent as the description proceeds.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main power leads 14 and 15 from the variabletransformer 16 extend to the electrode assemblies 11 and 12,respectively. These assemblies necting a power lead 14 or 15 to itsrespective conducting plate. In the electrode assembly 11, which doesnot have the control switch 19, the power lead 14 extends through i theupper end of the assembly and is connected internally to an elongatedconductor (not shown) extending axially,

within the electrode assembly 11 and attached to its end conductor plate21.

The electrode assembly 12, while outwardly having much the sameappearance as the assembly 11 is provided with a different combinationof elements including the aforementioned miniature switch means 19 forcontrolling the flow of current in the electrode circuit. As shown indetail in FIGS. 3-6, the electrode assembly 12 has a double taperedhandle manner 23 that is attached to a pair of insulating disc members24 and 25, all of said members 23, 24 and 25 being formed of a rigidnon-conductive plastic material such as a well known phenolic. Theelectrode plate 22 at the lower end of the assembly 12 is bonded to theinsulation disc 24 and is provided with an upstanding central pin 26having a threaded end portion 27 of reduced diameter. An insulatingsleeve 28 of non-conductive plastic material fits around the pin 26 andextends upward to a point just below the threaded end portion 27. Thissleeve 28 serves as a spacer between the lower and upper insulatingdiscs 24 and 25. The upper disc 25 has a central opening 29 to receivethe pin 26 and rests on top of the sleeve 28 with the threaded end 27extending above its upper surface. The upper disc 25 serves as a safetymeans that prevents the operators hands from inadvertently sliding downand touching the lower disc 24 and perhaps the electrode plate 22itself.

The handle 23 has a lower tapered section 30 and an upper section 31separable therefrom. The lower section 30 is provided with a centralam'ally extending bore 32 within which at the lower end is rigidly fixedan internal sleeve 33 having internally threaded portions 34 and 35 ateach end that are axially aligned with the bore 32. The threads 34 atthe lower end of the sleeve 33 correspond to the threads 27 on the pin26 and enable the lower handle section 30 to be rigidly but removablyattached to the parallel discs 24 and 25.

The upper section 31 of the handle 23 is composed of two mating halfsections 36 and 37 of preferably the same plastic material as the discs24 and 25 and the lower handle section 30. When attached together thesections 36 and 37 form an internal cavity 38 which houses the miniatureswitch 19 that controls the current through the electrode circuit. Thelower end portion 40 of the upper handle section 31 formed by the matingsections 36 and 37 has a frusto conical shape which is adapted to fitwithin a similar conically shaped cavity 41 in the upper end of thelower handle section 30. Above the end portion 40 the mating sections 36and 37 are provided with a horizontal circular cavity 42 of uniformthickness and extending downward therefrom is a central bore 43 that isaligned with the bore 32 of the lower handle section 30. The cavity 42is adapted to retain a circular disc 44 that is attached to the upperend of an elongated conducting pin 45 having a lower threaded portion46. The lower threaded portion 46 is adapted to engage the upperthreaded portion 35 of the sleeve 33 embedded in the lower handlesection 30. Thus, when the upper handle section 31 is assembled, thedisc 44 is retained within the cavity 42 with its conducting pinextending downward through the bore 43. The upper handle section 31 isreadily engaged with the lower section 30 by inserting the pin 45through the bore 32 and threadedly attaching it to the sleeve 33therein.

The central cavity 38 of the upper body section is directly above thedisc 44 and an inlet opening 47 is provided through the wall of theupper handle section 31 for an electrical conduit 48 which carries themain power lead 15 and also a pair of leads 49 and 50 for the miniatureswitch 19. The opening 47 is formed by mating semi-cylindrical recessesin the mating handle sections 36 and 37 and is substantially the samediameter as the conduit 48 so that it grips the conduit tightly when thehandle 23 is assembled. The lead 15 is soldered to the upper surface ofthe disc 44 and the leads 49 and 50 are attached to terminals 51 and 52on the minature switch 19. The switch 19 is preferably of the singlepole, double throw type, which in various forms is commerciallyavailable in relatively small sizes. It is generally rectangular inshape and on the side opposite the terminals 51 and 52 is an inwardlymovable button 53 for actuating the switch 19. Within the cavity 38 ofthe upper handle section 31 of the handle 12 the switch 19 is mountedbetween a pair of inwardly protruding boss portions 54 and 55 havingparallel axially extending faces. An attaching bolt 56 extends throughthe walls of the handle section 31 including the portions 54 and 55 andalso through a passage 57 in the switch 19 itself. The head end of thebolt 56 and a nut 58 are retained in recesses 59 and provided onopposite sides of the upper handle section 31. To more firmly secure theswitch 19 a pair of aligned stabilizing projections 60 extend inwardlyfrom the boss portions 54 and 55 and are adapted to fit within a secondpassage 61 extending through the switch 19 parallel to the first passage57.

The switch 19 is oriented within the handle 23 so that the button 53 ismovable along a line perpendicular to the axis of the handle, and thebutton is actuated by means of an L-shaped member 62 that is movableaxially within the cavity 38 by means of a thumb control member 63 atthe end of the handle. The member 62 has an axially extending leg 64 ofa substantial thickness that is tapered inwardly toward the switch fromits end 65, so when it is moved downwardly the beveled end 65 engagesthe button 63 and cams it inwardly to actuate the switch 19. The thumbcontrol member 63 is preferably formed from some non-conductive materialsuch as nylon and has essentially the same diameter as the handle 23 andis attached to the member 62 by means of a pin 66 extending through anopening 67 in the end face 68 of the upper body section 31. A coilspring 69 is fitted between the control member 63 and the end face 68 tokeep the member 62 from actuating the switch button 53 until thumbcontrol member 63 is forcefully pressed downwardly at the end of thehandle.

Because of the aforementioned arrangement of elements of thedefibrillation device 10 it can be operated with complete safety andeffectiveness even by persons with limited experience. The chances forany mistiming of the electrical shock or of an inadvertent contact bythe electrodes with other than the desired conductor when current isflowing, is completely eliminated.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, manychanges in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention will suggest themselves without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and thedescription herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be inany sense limiting.

I claim:

1. An electrode assembly for a cardiac resuscitation device adapted tobe energized from a source of electric power to produce an electricalshock through the human body to cause defibrillation of the heartmuscles, said assembly comprising a circular metal disc forming anelectrode plate, an upper layer of non-conductive plastic materialforming an insulation disc and overlying and fixed to said electrodeplate, an elongated handle of nonconductive plastic material having anouter portion formed to be gripped by the four fingers and palm of onehand, said handle having an interior cavity, said upper layer beingremovably connected to one end of the handle in fixed axial relation tothe outer portion of the handle, a switch rigidly mounted within thecavity of said handle and having a control button extending outwardlyfrom the side of the switch, electrical conduit means adapted to extendfrom the source of power, and extending through said handle andconnected to said electrode plate and to said switch means, aspring-loaded thumb-actuated member on the other end of the handle andmovable between advanced and retracted positions axially with respect tothe outer grippable portion of the handle, said member including anexposed end surface adapted to be operable by the thumb of a handgripping the electrode assembly when the handle is gripped andpositioned for use, an arm in the handle operatively coupled to thethumb-actuated member and movable therewith axially of the handle, saidarm extending axially of the handle and including a contacting faceportion spaced from the control button when said thumb-actuated memberis in one of said positions and contacting and moving the control buttonwhen moving to the other of said positions.

2. An electrode assembly for a cardiac resuscitation device adapted toproduce an electrical shock through the human body to causedefibrillation of the heart muscles, said assembly comprising:

an electrode plate;

an insulation disc bonded to said plate;

a handle connected to said disc;

said handle including an elongated lower portion of non-conductiveplastic material with a central bore and a threaded sleeve aligned insaid bore, said sleeve electrically connected to said electrode plate,and a pair of upper handle portions adapted to abut together and havinginternal recessions forming both an internal cavity and a circulartransverse slot axially below said cavity, said upper handle portionshaving an opening for receiving an electrical conduit including a leadfrom a power source;

a contact disc of conductive material within said slot and attached tothe end of said power lead, said disc having an attached metal pinextending axially downwardly therefrom, said pin extending through thebore of said lower handle portion and threadedly engaged to said sleevethereby joining said upper handle portions to said lower handle portion;

a miniature switch means rigidly retained in said cavity between saidabutting upper handle portions, said switch means including a controlbutton extending exteriorly thereof, a spring-loaded thumb control meansextending beyond the end of said handle and movable between projectedand depressed positions to actuate said switch and thereby control theflow of current through said electrode plate, a rigid arm member movableaxially of the handle and extending axially of the electrode assembly,said arm member including a contacting face portion spaced from thecontrol button when said thumb control means is in one of said positionsand contacting and moving the control button when moving to the other ofsaid positions.

3. The device as described in claim 2 wherein said upper handle portionshave integral raised portions within said recessions adapted to bearagainst opposite sides of said miniature switch means, a bore throughsaid switch means and transverse bores aligned therewith, and bolt meansextending through said transverse bores and said switch means to holdsaid upper handle portions together and said miniature switch in apredetermined position relative to said rigid arm member to align thearm member to engage and depress the control button.

4. The device as described in claim 2 wherein said rigid arm is L-shapedand has a beveled end portion forming a cam surface aligned and disposedto depress the exterior control button on said switch when the arm ismoved by said thumb control means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,558,270 6/51Reiter 128-423 2,660,175 11/53 Thrasher et al 128-404 3,029,820 4/62Franklin 128-404 3,058,470 10/62 Seeliger et al. 128-303.17 X 3,093,1366/63 Lohr 128-423 3,094,591 6/63 Hill 200-172 X OTHER REFERENCESKouwenhoven et al.: Closed Chest Defibrillation, pp. 553 and 554,Surgery, vol. 34, No. 3, September 1957.

Leeds: Cardiac Resuscitation, pp. 1411-1413, J.A.M.A., vol. 152, No. 15,Aug. 8, 1953.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

1. AN ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR A CARDIAC RESUSCITATION DEVICE ADAPTED TOBE ENERGIZED FROM A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC POWER TO PRODUCE AN ELECTRICALSHOCK THROUGH THE HUMAN BODY TO CAUSE DEFIBRILLATION OF THE HEARTMUSCLES, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CIRCULAR METAL DISC FORMING ANELECTRODE PLATE, AND UPPER LAYER OF NON-CONDUCTIVE PLASTIC MATERIALFORMING AN INSULATION DISC AND OVERLYING AND FIXED TO SAID ELECTRODEPLATEAN ELONGATED HANDLE OF NONCONDUCTIVE PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING ANOUTER PORTION FORMED TO BE GRIPPED BY THE FOUR FINGERS AND PALM OF ONEHAND, SAID HANDLE HAVING AN INTERIOR CAVITY, SAID UPPER LAYER BEINGREMOVABLY CONNECTED TO ONE END OF THE HANDLE IN FIXED AXIAL RELATION TOTHE OUTER PORTION OF THE HANDLE, A SWITCH RIGIDLY MOUNTED WITHIN THECAVITY OF SAID HANDLE AND HAVING A CONTROL BUTTON EXTENDING OUTWARDLYFROM THE SIDE OF THE SWITCH, ELECTRICAL CONDUIT MENS ADAPTED TO EXTENDFROM THE SOURCE OF POWER, AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HANDLE ANDCONNECTED TO SAID ELECTRODE PLATE AND TO SAID SWITCH MEANS, ASPRING-LOADED THUMB-ACTUATED MEMBER ON THE OTHER END OT THE HANDLE ANDMOVABLE BETWEEN ADVANCED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS AXIALLY WITH RESPECT TOTHE OUTER GRIPPABLE PORTION OF THE HANDLE, SAID MEMBER INCLUDING ANEXPOSED END SURFACE ADAPTED TO BE OPERABLE BY THE THUMB OF A HANDGRIPPING THE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY WHEN THE HANDLE IS GRIPPED ANDPOSITIONED FOR USE, AN ARM IN THE HANDLE OPERATIVELY COUPLED TO THETHUMB-ACTUATED MEMBER AND MOVABLE THEREWITH AXIALLY OF THE HANDLE, SAIDARM EXTENDING AXIALLY OF THE HANDLE AND INCLUDING A CONTACTING FACEPORTION SPACED FROM THE CONTROL BUTTON WHEN SAID THUMB-ACTUATED MEMBERIS IN ONE OF SAID POSITIONS AND CONTACTING AND MOVING THE CONTROL BUTTONWHEN TO THE OTHER OF SAID POSITIONS.